Funny smell

11891 Views 54 Replies 36 Participants Last post by S1990, Oct 14, 2021

sourmash

Discussion Starter · Mar 23, 2007

There is a funny smell in my 2001 NB GLS TDI that has been there since practically new. When you first get in the car it kind of smells like melted crayola crayons....and no there haven't been any crayons in the car. Does anyone elses NB have this same mystery smell...and where might it be coming from? Just wanted to see if mine was normal

21 - 40 of 55 Posts

ghostRder1

· #21 · Apr 11, 2007

gilligan said:
pour some skunk urine down the heater vents..... you won't smell crayons anymore.

:ha: Cute!! lol

missruby

· #22 · Apr 11, 2007

gilligan said:
pour some skunk urine down the heater vents..... you won't smell crayons anymore.

:roflmao:

Shay

· #23 · Apr 11, 2007

gilligan said:
pour some skunk urine down the heater vents..... you won't smell crayons anymore.

:ha::ha::ha:

Lnzbug

· #24 · Apr 11, 2007

Gilligan you stinker you :fart:

dasmurph

· #25 · Apr 11, 2007

both of my '00's smelled like crayons...*SIGH* I MISS THAT!! Pretty much the best smell ever

dnyed

· #26 · Apr 11, 2007

When I had my New Beetle, I didn't smell the crayon, but every time someone got in, they said "What's that crayon smell?" :lol:

DannyRandomState

· #27 · Apr 13, 2007

Wasabi has a strong crayon smell. I LOVE IT!!! My mom asked today what the smell is and I tried to explain, but she couldn't quite get it. But then again most non NB owners don't understand anyways. :crazy:

Emi

· #28 · Apr 20, 2007

I heard that the crayon smell comes from some sort of wax put on the door panels or floor board or something like that. Or thats what i was told when i asked my friend about it. I love the smell.

The Cheat

· #29 · May 6, 2007

my 2001 used to smell like crayons...but after a year, a seat change with a 2002 turbo-s, and countless marlboro menthols, it smelled like...nothing. i'm convinced that while the insulation for the firewall had a bit to do with it (i replaced my heater core in 2004, and when i had the dash out, i could definitely smell it), it's mainly the cloth seats i think. i swapped out to leather from a new (at the time) turbo-s that had been totalled, and what was left of it went by the wayside. i'm convinced it's the cloth seats more than anything...maybe a protectant they used on them while in production? i've never smelled crayons or a waxy smell in any leather-equipped NB, and i've been a tech for 6 years.

how i subsided it (while i had cloth seats): i used to use febreze daily in the car, mainly because i didn't want my mom to know i was smoking in the car, but also because it would temporarily neutralize the smell. i took it to florida the first month i had it and HOLY CRAP...i thought i was going to be sick from the smell. i remember pulling into the dealer in ft. myers and asking why in the hell my 5k-mile old beetle smelled so strongly, and they said just use febreze. it worked.

i know insulation can absorb odors...maybe that's why it's getting blamed, but like i said, i've never had it make its presence felt inside a car without cloth seats.

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Trey[eclectique]

· #30 · Aug 19, 2007

Hmmm well my Beetle doesn't smell like crayons I brought a box out and sniffed it and than my car xD but it definitely has a smell that no other car has anddd I LOVE ITTT!! it's just another thing about my buggy that makes me happy

xXRockyHorrorsXx

· #31 · Aug 21, 2007

Black Betty smelled like crayons...I miss it

Woodstock

· #32 · Aug 27, 2007

My 2001 has the crayon smell (love it!

) with leather seats, so it is not the cloth.

My 2003, with cloth seats, does not have the smell.

anitx

· #33 · Aug 28, 2007

The Cheat said:
i'm convinced it's the cloth seats more than anything...maybe a protectant they used on them while in production? i've never smelled crayons or a waxy smell in any leather-equipped NB, and i've been a tech for 6 years.

1. I LOVE the crayon smell. Although, I'm convinced my car doesn't have "it" any more

Every now and then someone will comment on it, but I don't smell it anymore. le sigh

2. It's probably not the cloth, seeing as everytime I ride in Vince's TurboS (BEETLETHIS) I still smell it!

3. The "crayon smell" is also reported among Jetta owners, but not GLI owners?? Weeeeeeeird. Further no Golf/ GTI that I've ever been near/in has had that smell.

4. If you want to subdue the smell, use FABREEZE...DAILY. Or even twice a day. Orrrr use what my friend Yoshi uses in his 337--Armor All (sp??) his car smells DELISH!!

:crazy:

/end rant

Oh...in case you missed it....I :heart: the crayon smell

xXRockyHorrorsXx

· #34 · Aug 30, 2007

sourmash said:
When you first get in the car it kind of smells like melted crayola crayons...

that is the smell of desire..

AuctionHugh

· #35 · Nov 4, 2007 (Edited)

Just bought an '02 NB TDI GLS. The smell inside is disgusting and very strong. Mine smells like crayon plus dead animals plus rotting food. Mine must be the worst ever because everyone would be yelling if they had this smell. I did replace the cabin air filter and the charcoal seems to absorb a lot of the smell when it is running, but when it sits it fills with stink again. I used carpet foam then steam cleaned every soft surface twice to no big help. This is just rediculous. I really need some answers.

chelsie said:
I bought my 01 GLS new in 2001 then got hit head on and thus totaled. The totaled one never smelled like anything but 'new car.' I had to take what was left of the 01 model year and the one I got smells like crayon. I C A N ' T S T A N D I T! I know, I know, why do i still own it if I hate it that much. Because its paid off and it gets great gas mileage. Oh, and its cute!
Anyway, its smelled like it from day 1. Its like bar smell, If I drive the car, I smell like it for the rest of the day. I've heard some people say its the firewall and other say its the lubricant they use for the seats rails, and even the insulation under the carpet. I almost dread summer because it becomes that much worse. If replacing the seats got rid of it, mabye I'll try that
For all of those who wish their car had it...let me tell you...you really don't. Its not just a mild aroma, everything in the car smells like it. Until its either washed or hung out in fresh air. Gym clothes, pets, homework, backpacks...you name it. Very, very, very annoying. The other important thing to note is that it doesn't come from the vents. It doesn't matter if you have the heater or the a/c on. Its always there.

...ok, ill step off my soapbox now... ;-)

if anyone knows a fix, I'd love to hear it!

The Cheat said:
my 2001 used to smell like crayons...but after a year, a seat change with a 2002 turbo-s, and countless marlboro menthols, it smelled like...nothing. i'm convinced that while the insulation for the firewall had a bit to do with it (i replaced my heater core in 2004, and when i had the dash out, i could definitely smell it), it's mainly the cloth seats i think. i swapped out to leather from a new (at the time) turbo-s that had been totalled, and what was left of it went by the wayside. i'm convinced it's the cloth seats more than anything...maybe a protectant they used on them while in production? i've never smelled crayons or a waxy smell in any leather-equipped NB, and i've been a tech for 6 years.

how i subsided it (while i had cloth seats): i used to use febreze daily in the car, mainly because i didn't want my mom to know i was smoking in the car, but also because it would temporarily neutralize the smell. i took it to florida the first month i had it and HOLY CRAP...i thought i was going to be sick from the smell. i remember pulling into the dealer in ft. myers and asking why in the hell my 5k-mile old beetle smelled so strongly, and they said just use febreze. it worked.

i know insulation can absorb odors...maybe that's why it's getting blamed, but like i said, i've never had it make its presence felt inside a car without cloth seats.

NeedMoreHP

· #36 · Nov 4, 2007

My 01 also smells like crayons and I really, really hate it. Throw 'crayon smell' in google....I spent about 3 hours reading different thoughts on what causes it. From all this reading I feel I can say with pretty great accuracy that the smell has nothing to do with the material your seats are made out of. In fact its not specific to Beetles; other VW makes are also plagued by the odor. After 6 years of b*tchin and moaning about how much I hate the small, I'm at the point of literally ripping the car apart to find it. I had to take out my drivers seat to replace the seat belt clip/sensor and have decided to find the source by process of elimination. I'll keep ya posted on how that goes...

AuctionHugh

· #37 · Nov 5, 2007

After a bunch more reading, I think it is the soundproofing they sprayed under the carpet, which starts under the seats and continues under the dash. Several VW techs have stated that to resolve it under warranty, they ripped up the carpet, scraped off the soundproofing wax/goo, then put the carpet back down, a full day job. Of course as the second owner of a 5 year old beetle, my car has no warranty. Just kind of sucks.

sgtstadanko

· #38 · Nov 5, 2007

Mine smells of crayons and coconut for some reason.

Danbike

· #39 · Nov 5, 2007

Crayon Smell

If you think its a problem with your car, go check out the Barbour line of bad weather clothing. This is traditional British foul weather gear that is cotton and treated with a wax product. My son used to call it his Crayola Top Coat.

NeedMoreHP

· #40 · Nov 6, 2007

Solution!!!!

So I decided to get to the bottom of this crayon smell once and for all. I had already taken my drivers seat out to replace the set belt clip and figured I'd just go the extra mile. After taking the seat out I was able to slice off a little piece of the sound deadening pad thats under the carpet, and sure enough, it was the problem! Took me about an hour to take apart the center console and the passenger and back seat. Took me about 35 or 40 minutes to pull up the carpet/take out the sound barrier. If you mechanically inclined at all and have a few hours you could easily handle this job. I have the seats airing out in the garage and the windows down in the car to get rid of any lingering odor. If anyone wants more details, let me know. I could post some sort of instruction guide. Of if you live in the St.Louis metro area bring it by and we can gut it together!

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